Sometimes help is as simple as a little red plastic stool.

This was the request of Mr. Nguyen A, a widowed father of two young disabled girls in Vietnam. A $1.00 plastic stool: how, you may ask, will this help? Simple, as Mr. A explained, he was getting old and squatting on the ground to repair bikes for a living was getting too hard for him. But, if he had a plastic stool to sit on he could continue to work. So with the help of a donor in Minnesota, the plastic stool was purchased along with a new air pump and bike repair materials. Mr. A now earns enough money to support his three teen-aged daughters and to send his deaf-mute daughter back to school.

Consider donating money or volunteering your services, whether it is to one of the WLP projects below helping mitigate the impact of Agent Orange in Vietnam, to one of the other organizations working in Vietnam, or to one of the programs helping US Veterans and their families listed below.

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In addition to managing the Agent Orange Record Website the War Legacies Project conducts projects that provide comprehensive support to individuals and families heavily impacted by the war in Southeast Asia. Contact shammond@warlegacies.org to learn more about the War Legacies Project's (WLP) programs.

War Legacies Project Programs in Vietnam and Laos

Early Detection and Early Intervention Center. Working in cooperation with the Office of Genetic Counseling and Disabled Children at the Hue School of Medicine, WLP supports the screening of children for birth defects and disabilities, and provides the medical, educational or social support services they and their families need. $250 provides a year of early intervention (physical therapy, occupational therapy, specialized education) for a young child under six. $5000 covers the yearly operating cost (salaries, children’s meals, supplies, and utilities) for a classroom for children with developmental and/or physical disabilities who have dropped out of the local school.

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Special Surgery Program. There is a long waiting list of children in need of life saving or life changing surgeries in Vietnam and Laos to repair birth defects such as club foot, cleft palate or congenital heart defects. Working directly with the Hue School of Medicine, Office of Genetic Counseling and Disabled Children in Vietnam and with the COPE Center in Vientiane, Laos WLP helps families pay for the surgery, medicine and follow-up care their children need. Costs of surgery range from under $100 for club foot or cleft palate surgery up to $3000 for heart surgery.

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Family Support Programs. Many families caring for children with severe and multiple disabilities are unable to easily farm their lands or work outside the home as a result they earn less than $2/day. Working with the Vietnam Red Cross, WLP helps families by providing financial resources and training to enable them to raise animals or start a small home business. At times this support comes in the form of building or repairing their home, digging a well, scholarships for vocational training or other support to help improve the family’s circumstances. Since 2006, WLP has received donations for the Family Support Program memory of Bob Feldman, a US veteran who died of cancer associated with his exposure to Agent Orange/Dioxin. Bob's family and friends have contributed over $260,000 in donations which has been used to help over 450 families in Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Dong Nai provinces. WLP is working with our counterpars at the Lao Department of Rural Development to provide support to families with children with disabilities in Salavan and Savannakhet Provinces.

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Green Fence Project in A Luoi Valley. Working with the Natural Conservation and Community Development Center (ANCODEC) the War Legacies Project is helping villagers who live adjacent to a dioxin hotspot plant indigenous trees in their home gardens that will provide an income for their families. The project also works with ANCODEC to reintroduce native trees and plants in the surrounding forests that were defoliated by the herbicides that currently contain single species plantations. In 2011, villagers in Dong Son Commune, A Luoi District, Thua Thien Hue Province planted over 20,000 rattan seedlings with support from the Chino Cienaga Foundation.

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Other Organizations that support People with Disabilities in Vietnam

Children of Vietnam. Hope System of Care - wrap around care for children with disabilities and support for their families.

Vietnam Veterans of America. Provides information to Veterans about the benefits they may qualify for if they have been exposed to Agent Orange. Advocates for Veterans issues in Congress.

American Legion. Provides information for Veterans and collaborates with Columbia University on epidemiological research of Veterans exposed to Agent Orange.

Disabled American Veterans. The DAV’s Voluntary Services Program operates a comprehensive network of volunteers who provide veterans free rides to and from VA medical facilities and improve care and morale for sick and disabled veterans.

Quilt of Tears. The Vietnam Agent Orange Memorial Quilt, Agent Orange Victims and Widows Support Network is promoting the crafting of quilts to draw widespread national attention to the plight of the Vietnam Veterans affected by Agent Orange sprayed on them in Vietnam.

Organizations working on Domestic Toxic issues related to Agent Orange/Dioxin

Show your support to all of those who have been impacted by Agent Orange/Dioxin in Vietnam, the US and around the world. Receive an orange metal ribbon pin (made in Viet Nam) for any donation to WLP over $5.00. Pins sent upon request.